Thank You for Helping Us Meet the $1 Million Challenge!

In April 2015, Elaine and Henry Kaufman challenged Kaufman Music Center to raise $1 million in new and increased gifts over the next two years. The Kaufman family made this groundbreaking commitment to help us complete the Music Front & Center Campaign, a capacity-building initiative designed to support the Center during a period of rapid growth, with the opening of Special Music School High School and the expansion of Face the Music. The campaign will help to sustain the Center’s programs while our Annual Fund grows from $2.5 million to $3.5 million per year.

More than 1,100 donors responded to the call, including Board members, foundations, corporations, parents, students and other friends. As a result of this generous outpouring of support, the Center completed the challenge a full seven months ahead of schedule. We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped us reach this milestone.

Several Special Music School students recently made a video to thank Dr. and Mrs. Kaufman and the hundreds of donors who participated in the challenge (above). Their message speaks volumes about how grateful we are for their support!

Kaufman Music Center relies on gifts from our generous donors to bring our music performance and education programs to more than 75,000 New Yorkers each year. This year, we must raise more than $2.8 million to make our programs possible.